Judge will allow tapes of Woods' talking about grant scheme

File Photo/NWA Democrat-Gazette/ANDY SHUPE Former state Sen. Jon Woods (right) walks March 28 with his attorney Patrick Benca (far left) and others from the Benca Law Firm to the John Paul Hammerschmidt Federal Building in Fayetteville.

A judge ruled Friday federal prosecutors can use some 40 secretly recorded telephone calls in the case of a former state senator accused in a kickback scheme involving state grant money.

GIF money

Arkansas General Improvement Fund grants are distributed by eight nonprofit economic development districts set up around the state. Each grant requires approval by a sponsoring state lawmaker.